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Friday, October 25, 2013

More and more women are realizing the importance of avoiding sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) in their shampoos and conditioners. SLS is a common ingredient in hair and skin care products mainly responsible for creating additional bubbles. However, SLS can be harsh on skin and hair, and some people are sensitive or allergic to this detergent. Because SLS is so rough on skin, we’ve eliminated it from all of our products, including our SLS-Free Volumizing Shampoo.

Most people use shampoo twice a week, and some wash their hair daily. If you have dry, itchy scalp, one reason may be SLS in your shampoo. When you purchase shampoo, it can be tempting to buy the smell-good, foams a lot brand. However, these products contain harsh and irritating fragrances and parabens. Together with sodium lauryl sulfate, this can mean trouble for your delicate scalp, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Cleure shampoo is very different from other commercial shampoos. Without SLS, it doesn’t lather as much, but it still leaves your hair clean and shiny. In fact, one of the major benefits of an SLS-free shampoo is shinier hair. That’s because sodium laurel sulfate strips hair of its natural, hydrating oils. This leaves your hair moisturized and clean, giving you truly healthier hair.

Like most volumizing shampoos, Cleure shampoo will leave your hair feeling fuller. But Cleure goes a step beyond other hair care products: it can actually make your hair fuller.

Sodium laurel sulfate can corrode your hair follicles, causing hair loss over time. Some scientists say SLS is a major cause of hair loss in people who shampoo more than necessary.
Have you tried SLS-free shampoo before? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!

Friday, October 18, 2013

Healthy smile is important, and specially during pregnancy. However, the principles on how to prevent oral disease stay the same, whether you are pregnant or not. Many changes take place during pregnancy, and the health of the mouth is no exception with some adverse affects. There are many myths that exist during pregnancy as far as dental care is concerned. Concerns include taking x-rays, affects of ultrasonic cleanings or even what to do with a toothache. This blog will help separate fact from myth.

Studies report poor oral health increases the risk of problem pregnancy including miscarriage. However, since 80% of spontaneous miscarriages occur during the first trimester, it is advisable to avoid any non-urgent treatment until the second or third trimester. By the second trimester, the major layers of the internal organs of the baby have developed, thereby reducing the risk of exposure to any harmful or necessary medications.

During the second trimester, it's also easier for mother to recline in the dental treatment chair for extended periods of time. However, it may be helpful to get short breaks if you do have to be in the dental chair for quit awhile.

X-rays and Pregnancy
With modern digital radiology, exposure to radiation is extremely low. You and your unborn child are generally at a higher risk from gum disease or tooth infection, than you are with radiation exposure. Other ways you are exposed to radiation include the sun, microwaves and your cell phones.

Gum Disease and Problem Pregnancy Connection
Evidence from recent studies shows a connection between gum disease and low birthweight babies and premature delivery. In order to avoid transmission of oral bacteria from mother to children and to prevent problem pregnancies, it's important to see a dentist before and during pregnancy.

Often during pregnancy, due to hormonal changes, the gums become easily inflamed and appear to be swollen. The cleaner you keep the teeth and gums, the less likely that this condition will occur or get worse. Self-help with daily oral hygiene and 3 month visits to your dentist can help prevent "pregnancy gingivitis".

Healthy Mom = Healthy Baby
Now that we know an unhealthy mouth can affect the health of your unborn, it's important to take a few steps to help prevent problem pregnancy:

Practice proper oral hygiene on a daily bases.

Get a dental check up before you become pregnant, or as soon as you find out.

Visit cleure.com and learn how Dr. Stay recommends you keep a healthy smile.

How to Brush:

Use Cleure Mouthwash and swish it around your mouth.

Floss

Rinse your toothbrush and dab a small amount of your favorite Cleure toothpaste on it.

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably stopped applying sunscreen now that it’s getting a little colder outside. You might do this because you think there’s no way you’re going to get a sunburn during the winter, or you might just think it’s unnecessary when you’re not planning on going to the beach. However, it’s very important to wear sunscreen, even during the winter months if you hope to minimize sun damage and slow the visible effects of aging.

The sun is still producing harmful UV rays during the winter, even if the sun is hidden behind a layer of dreary clouds. While clouds are able to block some of the sun’s damaging rays, UVA rays from the sun are the same strength throughout the year, and some UVB rays will still be able to reach your skin.

If you enjoy winter sports, such as skiing or snowboarding, or you live somewhere with a large amount of snowfall, it’s especially important to wear sunscreen. In addition to the direct UV-hit your skin is getting, the sun’s rays also bounce off the snow, increasing the total sun damage your skin receives. As many skiiers can attest, you can still get a sunburn when it’s cold outside.

At Cleure, we recommend that you make applying sunscreen part of your daily routine. Sunscreen prevents skin cancer and helps you look younger for longer, something we all want. Our sunscreen was specially formulated for sensitive skin, using safe and healthy zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to block damaging UVA and UVB rays. We’re not the only ones who think our sensitive skin sunscreen is awesome: Discovery Channel Fit & Health rated Cleure sunscreen #1 on its list of the top 10 sunscreens for sensitive skin.

Do you wear sunscreen year-round? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments!

Friday, October 11, 2013

When you have dry skin, it can be hard to find a face wash that cleans your skin without making it even drier. If your skin is sensitive as well, it can be almost impossible to find a cleanser that does it all — cleaning your face without stripping natural oils or irritating your skin. That’s why we decided to make our dry sensitive skin face wash.

The Cleure Dry Sensitive Skin Face Wash Cleanser gives you everything you would want in a cleanser: It cleans away makeup, dirt and oil, the main culprits for clogged pores. But what makes our cleanser different is that it won’t strip your skin of its natural oils and the cleanser is free from the most common skin irritants, including parabens, salicylates, fragrances and gluten.

Like all of the products we make, this sensitive skin cleanser is made in the United States using ecologically responsible practices and was never tested on animals, so you can feel confident that you’re making a responsible and ethical purchase.

Just about all women want beautiful, healthy nails. Besides appearance, nails are very useful. If we overlook them, they will look brittle, break, get infected with fungus, and just not be very attractive. You may even have had to bite them to repair a chipped nail. This only makes matters worse. There are at-home remedies you can learn about to help prevent your nails from breaking and appearing uneven and unhealthy.Regular care means a routine of maintenance and not using your nails as a tool. You can either get a manicure monthly, or follow a regular routine for nail care. Even with a regular manicure, things can happen to damage your nails daily. With a few simple tips and tricks, you can keep your nails looking healthy, and even sized so you'll be proud to show them off.What's Healthy versus What's Not Healthy Nails

Nails are mostly protein called 'keratin'. The keratin grows from under the cuticle around the base of the nail. The keratin is composed of cells that generate new ones as old ones are pushed out.Some facts about healthy versus unhealthy nails include:

Healthy nails are smooth and uniform in color. Don't worry about fine vertical ridges or white lines or spots that may occasionally appear. These may be due to injury and eventually grow out with the nail.

If the shape of your nail changes or the entire nail becomes dark or separates, this could be a sign of abnormal or unhealthy nails that you should consult a doctor about.

Dry nails can result in brittle nails. Moisturizing nails and nail cuticle daily is important for healthy nails.

Fingernails and toenails help prevent injury to your fingers and toes. When injured, bruising and infection can result. Keeping your nails short lowers the risk of nail injury.

Soaking nails in warm saltwater for 5 to 10 minutes, makes them easier to trim.

Fungal infection on toenails or fingernails are hard to treat, and often return after treatment. Treatment can include prescription medication, including terbinafine (Lamisil), fluconazole (Diflucan) and itraconazole (Sporanox) taken for up to 6 months. Topical medications such as ciclopirox (Penlac) is an antifungal lacquer helps with mild to moderate nail fungus. Home remedies reported to be helpful include thymol oil applied daily, while clipping any infected nails. This may take up to a year before the infection clears up. Thymol oil can be applied by itself or through such products as Vicks VapoRub, which includes thymol as one of its ingredients. Soaking your nails in vinegar has been used as another form of fungal cure. Studies suggest soaking nails daily or two to three times per week for 15 to 20 minutes in a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 2 parts warm water. Rinse and pat dry.

Supplements for nails containing biotin have been shown through some studies to help build nail thickness and hardness.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

You may have been hearing a lot about SLS-free shampoos and conditioners lately. More and more beauty writers and consumers are realizing the harm sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) can do to your hair, and we’re so glad this is happening. At Cleure, we’ve been making shampoos and other beauty products without SLS for years because it’s known to irritate the skin.

SLS is an inexpensive chemical that many shampoo and conditioner manufacturers use to make shampoos and other cleansers more bubbly. While we probably all enjoy a few extra bubbles in the shower, the irritation and other drawbacks that stem from this ingredient just aren’t worth it.

Shinier hair — SLS is just as hard on our hair as it is on our skin. Especially as we age, the beauty of our hair takes a huge hit with each dose of SLS. Without SLS, we can keep the healthy, natural oils our hair and scalp need.

More hair — Some scientists have pointed to SLS as the culprit for hair loss due to excessive shampooing. When SLS is left in your hair follicles after shampooing, your follicles can corrode and cause hair loss. If you feel like your hair is falling out faster than you’re comfortable with, think about switching over to a hypoallergenic shampoo with no SLS.

Longer lasting color — If you dye your hair regularly, you may be able to go a little longer between appointments by cutting SLS out of your beauty routine. SLS makes hair dye fade faster.

Less frizz — Because sodium laurel sulfate strips the natural strength and moisture from our hair, shampoos and conditioners with SLS actually make hair more frizzy. Especially if you have curly hair, it’s time to switch to an SLS-free shampoo.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Rosacea is a common skin condition and can vary from person to person. It mostly affects the skin on your face and can come and go with flare-ups without any warning. Signs of redness and bumps can last for weeks to months, and then diminish before reappearing. The cheeks, nose, chin or forehead are the areas most likely to turn red from rosacea and it typically doesn't show up until after age 30 and typically on fair skin individuals. There are four types (or subtypes) of rosacea:

Facial redness

Facial redness with bumps or pimples

Thickening of skin, usually around the nose

Eye irritation

How to Know if You Have Rosacea
With rosacea, one or more of the following signs and symptoms appear:

Flushing or blushing, with facial redness randomly showing up.

Persistent facial redness that looks like you're blushing or have a sunburn that doesn't go away.

Small red bumps or pus-filled pimples that may resemble acne. Often may burn or sting.

Small blood vessels become visible.

Causes of Rosacea

There are certain factors that trigger rosacea, including:

Stress, anger or embarrassment

Spicy foods

Corticosteroid type of drugs

Some blood pressure medications

Sunlight

Alcohol

Rosacea Skin Treatment

Since rosacea varies in appearance and symptoms between people, dermatologists may prescribe different types of medication. Medications can include antibiotics and acne drugs. However, all dermatologists agree that a gentle skin-care routine helps control rosacea:

Skin care that contains non-irritating ingredients is a must. The more harsh the product, the likelier for flareups.

Clean the face with a non-abrasive cleanser and gently pat dry the face with a soft towel.

Always use a sunscreen with an SPF 15 or SPF 30. The only non-irritating effective sunscreen contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that are non-micronized.